The Hamilton Derby was a Canadian Thoroughbred horse race first run on June 4, 1907, at the Hamilton Jockey Club Racetrack in Hamilton, Ontario. Open to three-year-old horses of either sex, it was contested over a distance of one and one-quarter miles on dirt.
Historical notes The first four editions of the Hamilton Derby were won by Canadian-owned horses but passage of the Hart–Agnew anti-betting legislation in 1908 by the New York Legislature led to a compete shutdown of racing in 1911 and 1912 in that state. As a result, American owners began sending horses to compete in Canada and stalls at the Hamilton Jockey Club track were in great demand. The Hamilton Derby of 1911 saw only five starters, all of which were owned by Americans. Leading the way was Kentucky Derby winner Meridian plus the Derby runner-up Governor Gray, Richard Wilson Jr.'s Naushon, as well as the colt Pagod, owned by Lily A. Livingston, the former proprietor of the Rancocas Stud Farm and racing stable. It would be August Belmont Jr.'s Whist who would win the race under jockey Eddie Dugan. With American stables then competing regularly in the Hamilton Derby, it earned a good reputation as confirmed by a March 17, 1914 Daily Racing Form report that it was "always one of the great three-year-old races of the season" in Canada.
Records Speed record: 2:05 flat @ 1¼ : Whist (1911)
Most wins by a jockey: no jockey won this race more than once.
Most wins by a trainer: 2 – John Whalen (1911, 1913) 2 – William H. Bringloe (1921, 1925)
Most wins by an owner: 2 – Seagram Stable (1921, 1925)
Winners Year Winner Age Jockey Trainer Owner Dist. (Miles) Time Win$1926Token3Raymond PeternelBert S. MichellGreen Briar Stable (Frank D. Shea)11:55.20$3,5401925Edisto 3Bert KennedyWilliam H. BringloeEdward F. Seagram1¼ 2:05.60$1924Dixie Smith3F. LeePreston M. BurchPreston M. Burch1¼2:08.20$4,5901923Caladium3Tom ParringtonJ. B. SmithCharles H. Hughes1¼2:08.00$4,7001922Spanish Maize3Clarence TurnerHenry McDanielJ. K. L. Ross1¼2:06.20$4,5101921Golden Sphere3Robert LancasterWilliam H. BringloeSeagram Stable1¼2:05.80$4,7101920Paul Weidel3Gorge A. StackMose LowensteinMose & Jake Lowenstein1¼2:07.20$4,4801919 No races held due to Government wartime rationing.19181917Iron Cross II3Roy EstepE. J. SaltCapt. W. J. Press1¼2:13.80$3,7701916Achievement 3J. MetcalfRichard F. Carman Sr.Wifrid Viau1¼2:06.40$3,7601915The Finn3George ByrneEdward W. HeffnerHarry C. Hallenbeck1¼2:05.80$3,6301914Sandbar3Eddie AmbroseMichael J. DalyMichael J. Daly1¼2:06.00$3,3101913Buskin3Robert M. SmallJohn WhalenJohn Whalen1¼2:05.40$2,2901912Froglegs3James ButwellJohn F. SchorrJohn W. Schorr1¼2:09.40$2,5301911Whist3Eddie DuganJohn WhalenAugust Belmont Jr.1¼2:05.00$1,9501910Chief Kee3Phil MusgraveEdward GleasonJohn Dyment1¼2:06.40$1,9501909Detective3Dalton McCarthyCharles Boyle Woodstock Stable (Charles Boyle)1¼2:08.60$1,4501908Uncle Toby3Dave NicolJohn Dyment Jr.John Dyment Sr.1¼2:07.40$1,4501907Tourenne3Eddie KunzEdward WhyteKirkfield Stable (Alex Mackenzie)1¼2:10.40$1,450
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